Some questions
Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:13 pm
Hi all
I went for a flip in gyrocopter about 4 years ago. Since then I’ve had a persistent niggle to explore this form of flight more seriously but have been always managed to come up with reasons not to. A big one was the cost, another was not really having a huge urgency because I’ve owned various trikes over the years and get to fly on occasion (when work allows) and until now I’ve had other more serious matters to ply cash into such as buying houses etc. One thing still bothers me though and maybe a technical guru could explain to this simpleton how the rotor blades can carry such a heavy undercarriage without overstressing or breaking at the attachment points? That little mind bender is just too much for my brain.
Attachment point aside, the appealing thing for me is the gyro’s wider flying envelope compared with trikes and also their amazing flying capabilities. I really like knowing that I don’t have to wake up early to be assured of some good flying as long as clouds don’t put a spanner in the works.
After having read almost every thread under gyro talk I have developed a somewhat unhealthy interest all of a sudden, particularly when reading the informative posts by Jetranger, FOGyro etc and FLYNOTE’s very appealing pics of his travels all over the show.
Being pretty clueless, can somebody give me some info on what the training costs are; would it be easier to convert coming from trikes than someone with no flying experience at all? Rough ballpark on hrs of training required? Why are Sycamores seemingly more affordable (I might be wrong here) than most other types – are they any inferior to the others? Also ballpark annual maintenance costs, in other words, am I in for a shocker when compared to trikes?
Appreciate the help…….
I went for a flip in gyrocopter about 4 years ago. Since then I’ve had a persistent niggle to explore this form of flight more seriously but have been always managed to come up with reasons not to. A big one was the cost, another was not really having a huge urgency because I’ve owned various trikes over the years and get to fly on occasion (when work allows) and until now I’ve had other more serious matters to ply cash into such as buying houses etc. One thing still bothers me though and maybe a technical guru could explain to this simpleton how the rotor blades can carry such a heavy undercarriage without overstressing or breaking at the attachment points? That little mind bender is just too much for my brain.
Attachment point aside, the appealing thing for me is the gyro’s wider flying envelope compared with trikes and also their amazing flying capabilities. I really like knowing that I don’t have to wake up early to be assured of some good flying as long as clouds don’t put a spanner in the works.
After having read almost every thread under gyro talk I have developed a somewhat unhealthy interest all of a sudden, particularly when reading the informative posts by Jetranger, FOGyro etc and FLYNOTE’s very appealing pics of his travels all over the show.
Being pretty clueless, can somebody give me some info on what the training costs are; would it be easier to convert coming from trikes than someone with no flying experience at all? Rough ballpark on hrs of training required? Why are Sycamores seemingly more affordable (I might be wrong here) than most other types – are they any inferior to the others? Also ballpark annual maintenance costs, in other words, am I in for a shocker when compared to trikes?
Appreciate the help…….
